Lame Duck

There are about a half dozen bills out there that would establish “prevailing wage” for contractors who receive government money.

One applies to BPU projects which cleared the Assembly labor Cmt. Monday, another involves food service at schools. Basically they impose a wage of roughly $15 an hour which is more than double the state’s minimum.

The bills are largely symbolic since they don’t apply to that much work, but what is interesting here ( like always ) is the politics. To begin with, opposition to this bill was relatively muted from some of the key organizations charged with protecting NJ’s business interests. The backdoor reason is that some of these prevailing wage bills, which are being pushed by the unions, are sponsored by incoming Senate President Stephen Sweeney. And as many insiders put it today, since the bills are gonna pass anyway, they don’t need to go on record vigorously opposing the new prez. At least not this early they don’t.

But I also spoke to a developer who said this issue is emblematic of the tone deafness of the Corzine Administration. They just don’t get it. They have made the business environment here so cost prohibitive that companies are either packing up and leaving or not coming here to begin with.

In fact, according to this developer states like Massachusetts and New York ( normally regarded as pro-union and quite liberal ) are actually better business environments. So when NJ passes a prevailing wage bill, while it may not do much, it just kinda sends the wrong message and winds up costing jobs.

Obviously unions and Democarts disagree…arguing that it’s an issue of fairness and a rising tide lifts all boats.

The other bill I’d like to mention is A4271. This legislation would tie the hands of the incoming Governor when it comes to US Senate appointments to vacant seats. Since New Jersey has two Democratic Senators, one of whom is 85, the new bill would force Christie ( a Republican ) to make an appointment within 30 days, and that appointment must be from the party of the Senator who is leaving the seat.

As Of course this is a hypothetical scenario. But as we know, Dems have a 60-seat filibuster proof majority in the US Senate and they are about pass a health care overhaul which is largely unpopular in the Republican party. Thus if something were to happen to either Menendez or Lautenberg, Christie would not be able to disrupt the current national balance.

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When New York and Massachusetts have become better business environments than that of New Jersey, it just speaks to the disregard and lack of knowledge of some in Trenton. They quite honestly just don’t understand the conception of what it takes to start and conduct business in our state, given the massive obstacles.

It is not my desire to demean any politician as it serves no purpose in trying to move forward an agenda that makes our state warm and welcoming to families and businesses. I was watching an interview being conducted at the League of Municipalities this past week in Atlantic City. The correspondent asked a politician if he could point out why it is so difficult for businesses to start up and survive. With all due respect to this individual, who has been serving in local and state government for thirty years, he rattled off an answer blaming zoning ordinances; not much else was expressed by him with regard to the question. It was beyond me. His response was a perfect fit as to why we see businesses either closing or moving out by the hundreds… and hundreds.

Owning a business in this state, I could have answered the question with up to eleven facts within a minute; not one relating to zoning ordinances. This elected official had no clue because he really doesn’t know what the challenges are. He is either out of touch or inexperienced in his knowledge of what the business climate needs to not only survive but thrive. When one out of nine businesses say they like the marketplace here, it is time to reevaluate our mission and goals in attracting, sustaining and keeping businesses in our state for the long term.

When you have thirty seven store fronts in Ridgewood empty, I could only imagine what our urban communities are going through. People are suffering. They’re the ones who are tired of getting the “business” from those who are supposed to be problem solving..